Crime, Mysteries & Thrillers discussion

Some people think the first sentence of a novel is the most important sentence. Agree or disagree?

I wouldn't say it's the most important.

I think it has to be strong enough to persuade you to read the second, which needs to be strong enough to induce you to read the third, which has to be strong enough...

Actually I think the whole first page has to be engaging enough to entice you to read further.

Definitely for literary works....perhaps not as much in genre writing.

I had never thought about this but a first sentence can set the tone for the rest of a book and peak my interest. This is the first sentence of a book I'm reading now:

"Even severed as it was from the rest of the body, the hand was majestic."

Doesn't that sentence make you want to read on a little bit?

Anyone have a suggestion on what John Grisham novel to start with?